problem solving activities worksheets

10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

Cognitive science tells us that we regularly face not only well-defined problems but, importantly, many that are ill defined (Eysenck & Keane, 2015).

Sometimes, we find ourselves unable to overcome our daily problems or the inevitable (though hopefully infrequent) life traumas we face.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce the incidence and impact of mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by helping clients face life’s difficulties (Dobson, 2011).

This article introduces Problem-Solving Therapy and offers techniques, activities, and worksheets that mental health professionals can use with clients.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is problem-solving therapy, 14 steps for problem-solving therapy, 3 best interventions and techniques, 7 activities and worksheets for your session, fascinating books on the topic, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Problem-Solving Therapy assumes that mental disorders arise in response to ineffective or maladaptive coping. By adopting a more realistic and optimistic view of coping, individuals can understand the role of emotions and develop actions to reduce distress and maintain mental wellbeing (Nezu & Nezu, 2009).

“Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychosocial intervention, generally considered to be under a cognitive-behavioral umbrella” (Nezu, Nezu, & D’Zurilla, 2013, p. ix). It aims to encourage the client to cope better with day-to-day problems and traumatic events and reduce their impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Clinical research, counseling, and health psychology have shown PST to be highly effective in clients of all ages, ranging from children to the elderly, across multiple clinical settings, including schizophrenia, stress, and anxiety disorders (Dobson, 2011).

Can it help with depression?

PST appears particularly helpful in treating clients with depression. A recent analysis of 30 studies found that PST was an effective treatment with a similar degree of success as other successful therapies targeting depression (Cuijpers, Wit, Kleiboer, Karyotaki, & Ebert, 2020).

Other studies confirm the value of PST and its effectiveness at treating depression in multiple age groups and its capacity to combine with other therapies, including drug treatments (Dobson, 2011).

The major concepts

Effective coping varies depending on the situation, and treatment typically focuses on improving the environment and reducing emotional distress (Dobson, 2011).

PST is based on two overlapping models:

Social problem-solving model

This model focuses on solving the problem “as it occurs in the natural social environment,” combined with a general coping strategy and a method of self-control (Dobson, 2011, p. 198).

The model includes three central concepts:

Social problem-solving
The problem
The solution

The model is a “self-directed cognitive-behavioral process by which an individual, couple, or group attempts to identify or discover effective solutions for specific problems encountered in everyday living” (Dobson, 2011, p. 199).

Relational problem-solving model

The theory of PST is underpinned by a relational problem-solving model, whereby stress is viewed in terms of the relationships between three factors:

Stressful life events
Emotional distress and wellbeing
Problem-solving coping

Therefore, when a significant adverse life event occurs, it may require “sweeping readjustments in a person’s life” (Dobson, 2011, p. 202).

Enhance positive problem orientation
Decrease negative orientation
Foster ability to apply rational problem-solving skills
Reduce the tendency to avoid problem-solving
Minimize the tendency to be careless and impulsive

D’Zurilla’s and Nezu’s model includes (modified from Dobson, 2011):

Initial structuring Establish a positive therapeutic relationship that encourages optimism and explains the PST approach.
Assessment Formally and informally assess areas of stress in the client’s life and their problem-solving strengths and weaknesses.
Obstacles to effective problem-solving Explore typically human challenges to problem-solving, such as multitasking and the negative impact of stress. Introduce tools that can help, such as making lists, visualization, and breaking complex problems down.
Problem orientation – fostering self-efficacy Introduce the importance of a positive problem orientation, adopting tools, such as visualization, to promote self-efficacy.
Problem orientation – recognizing problems Help clients recognize issues as they occur and use problem checklists to ‘normalize’ the experience.
Problem orientation – seeing problems as challenges Encourage clients to break free of harmful and restricted ways of thinking while learning how to argue from another point of view.
Problem orientation – use and control emotions Help clients understand the role of emotions in problem-solving, including using feelings to inform the process and managing disruptive emotions (such as cognitive reframing and relaxation exercises).
Problem orientation – stop and think Teach clients how to reduce impulsive and avoidance tendencies (visualizing a stop sign or traffic light).
Problem definition and formulation Encourage an understanding of the nature of problems and set realistic goals and objectives.
Generation of alternatives Work with clients to help them recognize the wide range of potential solutions to each problem (for example, brainstorming).
Decision-making Encourage better decision-making through an improved understanding of the consequences of decisions and the value and likelihood of different outcomes.
Solution implementation and verification Foster the client’s ability to carry out a solution plan, monitor its outcome, evaluate its effectiveness, and use self-reinforcement to increase the chance of success.
Guided practice Encourage the application of problem-solving skills across multiple domains and future stressful problems.
Rapid problem-solving Teach clients how to apply problem-solving questions and guidelines quickly in any given situation.

Success in PST depends on the effectiveness of its implementation; using the right approach is crucial (Dobson, 2011).

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

The following interventions and techniques are helpful when implementing more effective problem-solving approaches in client’s lives.

First, it is essential to consider if PST is the best approach for the client, based on the problems they present.

Is PPT appropriate?

It is vital to consider whether PST is appropriate for the client’s situation. Therapists new to the approach may require additional guidance (Nezu et al., 2013).

Therapists should consider the following questions before beginning PST with a client (modified from Nezu et al., 2013):

Has PST proven effective in the past for the problem? For example, research has shown success with depression, generalized anxiety, back pain, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and supporting caregivers (Nezu et al., 2013).
Is PST acceptable to the client?
Is the individual experiencing a significant mental or physical health problem?

All affirmative answers suggest that PST would be a helpful technique to apply in this instance.

Five problem-solving steps

The following five steps are valuable when working with clients to help them cope with and manage their environment (modified from Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to consider the following points (forming the acronym ADAPT) when confronted by a problem:

Attitude Aim to adopt a positive, optimistic attitude to the problem and problem-solving process.
Define Obtain all required facts and details of potential obstacles to define the problem.
Alternatives Identify various alternative solutions and actions to overcome the obstacle and achieve the problem-solving goal.
Predict Predict each alternative’s positive and negative outcomes and choose the one most likely to achieve the goal and maximize the benefits.
Try out Once selected, try out the solution and monitor its effectiveness while engaging in self-reinforcement.

If the client is not satisfied with their solution, they can return to step ‘A’ and find a more appropriate solution.

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Positive self-statements

When dealing with clients facing negative self-beliefs, it can be helpful for them to use positive self-statements.

Use the following (or add new) self-statements to replace harmful, negative thinking (modified from Dobson, 2011):

I can solve this problem; I’ve tackled similar ones before.
I can cope with this.
I just need to take a breath and relax.
Once I start, it will be easier.
It’s okay to look out for myself.
I can get help if needed.
Other people feel the same way I do.
I’ll take one piece of the problem at a time.
I can keep my fears in check.
I don’t need to please everyone.

5 Worksheets and workbooks

Problem-solving self-monitoring form.

Answering the questions in the Problem-Solving Self-Monitoring Form provides the therapist with necessary information regarding the client’s overall and specific problem-solving approaches and reactions (Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to complete the following:

Describe the problem you are facing.
What is your goal?
What have you tried so far to solve the problem?
What was the outcome?

Reactions to Stress

It can be helpful for the client to recognize their own experiences of stress. Do they react angrily, withdraw, or give up (Dobson, 2011)?

The Reactions to Stress worksheet can be given to the client as homework to capture stressful events and their reactions. By recording how they felt, behaved, and thought, they can recognize repeating patterns.

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Helping clients capture triggers for their stressful reactions can encourage emotional regulation.

When clients can identify triggers that may lead to a negative response, they can stop the experience or slow down their emotional reaction (Dobson, 2011).

The What Are Your Unique Triggers ? worksheet helps the client identify their triggers (e.g., conflict, relationships, physical environment, etc.).

Problem-Solving worksheet

Imagining an existing or potential problem and working through how to resolve it can be a powerful exercise for the client.

Use the Problem-Solving worksheet to state a problem and goal and consider the obstacles in the way. Then explore options for achieving the goal, along with their pros and cons, to assess the best action plan.

Getting the Facts

Clients can become better equipped to tackle problems and choose the right course of action by recognizing facts versus assumptions and gathering all the necessary information (Dobson, 2011).

Use the Getting the Facts worksheet to answer the following questions clearly and unambiguously:

Who is involved?
What did or did not happen, and how did it bother you?
Where did it happen?
When did it happen?
Why did it happen?
How did you respond?

2 Helpful Group Activities

While therapists can use the worksheets above in group situations, the following two interventions work particularly well with more than one person.

Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making

A group setting can provide an ideal opportunity to share a problem and identify potential solutions arising from multiple perspectives.

Use the Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making worksheet and ask the client to explain the situation or problem to the group and the obstacles in the way.

Once the approaches are captured and reviewed, the individual can share their decision-making process with the group if they want further feedback.

Visualization

Visualization can be performed with individuals or in a group setting to help clients solve problems in multiple ways, including (Dobson, 2011):

Clarifying the problem by looking at it from multiple perspectives
Rehearsing a solution in the mind to improve and get more practice
Visualizing a ‘safe place’ for relaxation, slowing down, and stress management

Guided imagery is particularly valuable for encouraging the group to take a ‘mental vacation’ and let go of stress.

Ask the group to begin with slow, deep breathing that fills the entire diaphragm. Then ask them to visualize a favorite scene (real or imagined) that makes them feel relaxed, perhaps beside a gently flowing river, a summer meadow, or at the beach.

The more the senses are engaged, the more real the experience. Ask the group to think about what they can hear, see, touch, smell, and even taste.

Encourage them to experience the situation as fully as possible, immersing themselves and enjoying their place of safety.

Such feelings of relaxation may be able to help clients fall asleep, relieve stress, and become more ready to solve problems.

We have included three of our favorite books on the subject of Problem-Solving Therapy below.

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D’Zurilla

This is an incredibly valuable book for anyone wishing to understand the principles and practice behind PST.

Written by the co-developers of PST, the manual provides powerful toolkits to overcome cognitive overload, emotional dysregulation, and the barriers to practical problem-solving.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Treatment Guidelines – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

Another, more recent, book from the creators of PST, this text includes important advances in neuroscience underpinning the role of emotion in behavioral treatment.

Along with clinical examples, the book also includes crucial toolkits that form part of a stepped model for the application of PST.

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

This is the fourth edition of a hugely popular guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies and includes a valuable and insightful section on Problem-Solving Therapy.

This is an important book for students and more experienced therapists wishing to form a high-level and in-depth understanding of the tools and techniques available to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.

For even more tools to help strengthen your clients’ problem-solving skills, check out the following free worksheets from our blog.

Case Formulation Worksheet This worksheet presents a four-step framework to help therapists and their clients come to a shared understanding of the client’s presenting problem.
Understanding Your Default Problem-Solving Approach This worksheet poses a series of questions helping clients reflect on their typical cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to problems.
Social Problem Solving: Step by Step This worksheet presents a streamlined template to help clients define a problem, generate possible courses of action, and evaluate the effectiveness of an implemented solution.

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17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

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While we are born problem-solvers, facing an incredibly diverse set of challenges daily, we sometimes need support.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce stress and associated mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by improving our ability to cope. PST is valuable in diverse clinical settings, ranging from depression to schizophrenia, with research suggesting it as a highly effective treatment for teaching coping strategies and reducing emotional distress.

Many PST techniques are available to help improve clients’ positive outlook on obstacles while reducing avoidance of problem situations and the tendency to be careless and impulsive.

The PST model typically assesses the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies when facing problems before encouraging a healthy experience of and relationship with problem-solving.

Why not use this article to explore the theory behind PST and try out some of our powerful tools and interventions with your clients to help them with their decision-making, coping, and problem-solving?

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

Cuijpers, P., Wit, L., Kleiboer, A., Karyotaki, E., & Ebert, D. (2020). Problem-solving therapy for adult depression: An updated meta-analysis. European P sychiatry , 48 (1), 27–37.
Dobson, K. S. (2011). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2021). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook . Psychology Press.
Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2009). Problem-solving therapy DVD . Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310852
Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2018). Emotion-centered problem-solving therapy: Treatment guidelines. Springer.
Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2013). Problem-solving therapy: A treatment manual . Springer.

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Team Building Exercises – Problem Solving and Decision Making

Fun ways to turn problems into opportunities.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Whether there's a complex project looming or your team members just want to get better at dealing with day-to-day issues, your people can achieve much more when they solve problems and make decisions together.

By developing their problem-solving skills, you can improve their ability to get to the bottom of complex situations. And by refining their decision-making skills, you can help them work together maturely, use different thinking styles, and commit collectively to decisions.

In this article, we'll look at three team-building exercises that you can use to improve problem solving and decision making in a new or established team.

Exercises to Build Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills

Use the following exercises to help your team members solve problems and make decisions together more effectively.

Exercise 1: Lost at Sea*

In this activity, participants must pretend that they've been shipwrecked and are stranded in a lifeboat. Each team has a box of matches, and a number of items that they've salvaged from the sinking ship. Members must agree which items are most important for their survival.

Download and print our team-building exercises worksheet to help you with this exercise.

This activity builds problem-solving skills as team members analyze information, negotiate and cooperate with one another. It also encourages them to listen and to think about the way they make decisions.

What You'll Need

Up to five people in each group.
A large, private room.
A "lost at sea" ranking chart for each team member. This should comprise six columns. The first simply lists each item (see below). The second is empty so that each team member can rank the items. The third is for group rankings. The fourth is for the "correct" rankings, which are revealed at the end of the exercise. And the fifth and sixth are for the team to enter the difference between their individual and correct score, and the team and correct rankings, respectively.
The items to be ranked are: a mosquito net, a can of petrol, a water container, a shaving mirror, a sextant, emergency rations, a sea chart, a floating seat or cushion, a rope, some chocolate bars, a waterproof sheet, a fishing rod, shark repellent, a bottle of rum, and a VHF radio. These can be listed in the ranking chart or displayed on a whiteboard, or both.
The experience can be made more fun by having some lost-at-sea props in the room.

Flexible, but normally between 25 and 40 minutes.

Instructions

Divide participants into their teams, and provide everyone with a ranking sheet.
Ask team members to take 10 minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance. They should do this in the second column of their sheet.
Give the teams a further 10 minutes to confer and decide on their group rankings. Once agreed, they should list them in the third column of their sheets.
Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with their collective ones, and consider why any scores differ. Did anyone change their mind about their own rankings during the team discussions? How much were people influenced by the group conversation?
Now read out the "correct" order, collated by the experts at the US Coast Guard (from most to least important): - Shaving mirror. (One of your most powerful tools, because you can use it to signal your location by reflecting the sun.) - Can of petrol. (Again, potentially vital for signaling as petrol floats on water and can be lit by your matches.) - Water container. (Essential for collecting water to restore your lost fluids.) -Emergency rations. (Valuable for basic food intake.) - Plastic sheet. (Could be used for shelter, or to collect rainwater.) -Chocolate bars. (A handy food supply.) - Fishing rod. (Potentially useful, but there is no guarantee that you're able to catch fish. Could also feasibly double as a tent pole.) - Rope. (Handy for tying equipment together, but not necessarily vital for survival.) - Floating seat or cushion. (Useful as a life preserver.) - Shark repellent. (Potentially important when in the water.) - Bottle of rum. (Could be useful as an antiseptic for treating injuries, but will only dehydrate you if you drink it.) - Radio. (Chances are that you're out of range of any signal, anyway.) - Sea chart. (Worthless without navigational equipment.) - Mosquito net. (Assuming that you've been shipwrecked in the Atlantic, where there are no mosquitoes, this is pretty much useless.) - Sextant. (Impractical without relevant tables or a chronometer.)

Advice for the Facilitator

The ideal scenario is for teams to arrive at a consensus decision where everyone's opinion is heard. However, that doesn't always happen naturally: assertive people tend to get the most attention. Less forthright team members can often feel intimidated and don't always speak up, particularly when their ideas are different from the popular view. Where discussions are one-sided, draw quieter people in so that everyone is involved, but explain why you're doing this, so that people learn from it.

You can use the Stepladder Technique when team discussion is unbalanced. Here, ask each team member to think about the problem individually and, one at a time, introduce new ideas to an appointed group leader – without knowing what ideas have already been discussed. After the first two people present their ideas, they discuss them together. Then the leader adds a third person, who presents his or her ideas before hearing the previous input. This cycle of presentation and discussion continues until the whole team has had a chance to voice their opinions.

After everyone has finished the exercise, invite your teams to evaluate the process to draw out their experiences. For example, ask them what the main differences between individual, team and official rankings were, and why. This will provoke discussion about how teams arrive at decisions, which will make people think about the skills they must use in future team scenarios, such as listening , negotiating and decision-making skills, as well as creativity skills for thinking "outside the box."

A common issue that arises in team decision making is groupthink . This can happen when a group places a desire for mutual harmony above a desire to reach the right decision, which prevents people from fully exploring alternative solutions.

If there are frequent unanimous decisions in any of your exercises, groupthink may be an issue. Suggest that teams investigate new ways to encourage members to discuss their views, or to share them anonymously.

Exercise 2: The Great Egg Drop*

In this classic (though sometimes messy!) game, teams must work together to build a container to protect an egg, which is dropped from a height. Before the egg drop, groups must deliver presentations on their solutions, how they arrived at them, and why they believe they will succeed.

This fun game develops problem-solving and decision-making skills. Team members have to choose the best course of action through negotiation and creative thinking.

Ideally at least six people in each team.
Raw eggs – one for each group, plus some reserves in case of accidents!
Materials for creating the packaging, such as cardboard, tape, elastic bands, plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, and scissors.
Aprons to protect clothes, paper towels for cleaning up, and paper table cloths, if necessary.
Somewhere – ideally outside – that you can drop the eggs from. (If there is nowhere appropriate, you could use a step ladder or equivalent.)
Around 15 to 30 minutes to create the packages.
Approximately 15 minutes to prepare a one-minute presentation.
Enough time for the presentations and feedback (this will depend on the number of teams).
Time to demonstrate the egg "flight."
Put people into teams, and ask each to build a package that can protect an egg dropped from a specified height (say, two-and-a-half meters) with the provided materials.
Each team must agree on a nominated speaker, or speakers, for their presentation.
Once all teams have presented, they must drop their eggs, assess whether the eggs have survived intact, and discuss what they have learned.

When teams are making their decisions, the more good options they consider, the more effective their final decision is likely to be. Encourage your groups to look at the situation from different angles, so that they make the best decision possible. If people are struggling, get them to brainstorm – this is probably the most popular method of generating ideas within a team.

Ask the teams to explore how they arrived at their decisions, to get them thinking about how to improve this process in the future. You can ask them questions such as:

Did the groups take a vote, or were members swayed by one dominant individual?
How did the teams decide to divide up responsibilities? Was it based on people's expertise or experience?
Did everyone do the job they volunteered for?
Was there a person who assumed the role of "leader"?
How did team members create and deliver the presentation, and was this an individual or group effort?

Exercise 3: Create Your Own*

In this exercise, teams must create their own, brand new, problem-solving activity.

This game encourages participants to think about the problem-solving process. It builds skills such as creativity, negotiation and decision making, as well as communication and time management. After the activity, teams should be better equipped to work together, and to think on their feet.

Ideally four or five people in each team.
Paper, pens and flip charts.

Around one hour.

As the participants arrive, you announce that, rather than spending an hour on a problem-solving team-building activity, they must design an original one of their own.
Divide participants into teams and tell them that they have to create a new problem-solving team-building activity that will work well in their organization. The activity must not be one that they have already participated in or heard of.
After an hour, each team must present their new activity to everyone else, and outline its key benefits.

There are four basic steps in problem solving : defining the problem, generating solutions, evaluating and selecting solutions, and implementing solutions. Help your team to think creatively at each stage by getting them to consider a wide range of options. If ideas run dry, introduce an alternative brainstorming technique, such as brainwriting . This allows your people to develop one others' ideas, while everyone has an equal chance to contribute.

After the presentations, encourage teams to discuss the different decision-making processes they followed. You might ask them how they communicated and managed their time . Another question could be about how they kept their discussion focused. And to round up, you might ask them whether they would have changed their approach after hearing the other teams' presentations.

Successful decision making and problem solving are at the heart of all effective teams. While teams are ultimately led by their managers, the most effective ones foster these skills at all levels.

The exercises in this article show how you can encourage teams to develop their creative thinking, leadership , and communication skills , while building group cooperation and consensus.

* Original source unknown. Please let us know if you know the original source.

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Problem Solving Worksheets

Customize problem solving worksheets.

Problem Solving Worksheet - Portrait Color 1

What is Problem Solving?

It is the cognitive process of identifying, analyzing, and finding solutions to challenges or issues. It involves using logical and creative thinking to address obstacles that occur, make decisions, and achieve goals. Consider the five problem-solving steps: identifying the problem, generating possible solutions, evaluating options, selecting the best solution, and implementing it. Understanding the steps is crucial for navigating complex challenges with clarity and efficiency.

What are Problem Solving Worksheets?

These worksheets are structured in such a way that encourages solution-based thinking. Engaging in interactive problem-solving activities can help develop critical thinking skills and creative approaches to overcoming obstacles. While these skills are used in a variety of aspects of life, our worksheets focus on problem solving in mathematics. Printable worksheets provide practice for any child who is learning to master new skills they are taught in class. They are perfect for any level, and can be applied to any type of mathematical problem or unit of study.

Why are They Important and How are They Best Used?

They are great for ensuring that students practice what they have yet to master, since they can be customized by the teacher to meet the class and individual needs. They can be used to practice all kinds of word problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and so much more.

In a world where challenges are inevitable, the ability to tackle problems effectively is a valuable skill that can be applied across all subjects and age groups. Problem-solving skills are the generator of success. They empower individuals to navigate complex situations, identify triggers, and develop plans to overcome obstacles. From the classroom to the boardroom, these skills are in high demand.

Tailoring Problem-Solving Worksheets for Different Subjects

Mathematics.

Math problem-solving worksheets can be a playground for nurturing critical thinking. Through word problem worksheets, students not only practice calculations but also apply math concepts to real-world scenarios.

Scientific problem-solving worksheets ignite curiosity. They prompt students to hypothesize, design experiments, collect data, and draw conclusions, fostering a scientific mindset.

Language Arts

Language skills and critical thinking intertwine in language arts problem-solving worksheets. Analyzing literature, engaging in creative writing prompts, and correcting grammar offer a holistic approach.

Social Studies

History comes to life through problem-solving worksheets. Encourage students to ponder over historical dilemmas and global challenges, nurturing their ability to think beyond the surface.

Math Worksheet Activity Ideas

"Math Detective" Challenge: Create a set of worksheets featuring a fictional mystery storyline. Each worksheet presents a clue that requires students to solve a math problem to unveil the next piece of the puzzle. This engaging activity encourages critical and sequential thinking.
"Math Menu" Project: Design a menu-style worksheet with various math problems categorized by difficulty levels. Allow students to choose a certain number of problems from each category to complete, giving them autonomy and catering to their individual skill levels.
"Design Your Dream House" Activity: Provide a worksheet that guides students through designing their dream house layout. They need to calculate room dimensions, total area, and even budget constraints. This hands-on activity integrates math into real-life scenarios.
"Math Art Gallery" Exhibition: Assign each student a famous artwork and create a worksheet that involves geometric calculations related to the art's dimensions and shapes. Students can then present their findings in a "Math Art Gallery" exhibition.
"Math in the News" Analysis: Collect recent news articles that involve math-related concepts, such as statistics, percentages, or data analysis. Provide worksheets that require students to analyze the math behind the news and discuss its implications.
"Budgeting for Vacation" Project: Design a project-based worksheet where students plan a vacation, considering expenses like transportation, accommodations, and activities. They must budget and calculate costs while staying within a specified budget.
"Math Around the World" Exploration: Create a worksheet that presents math problems related to different countries' cultures, currencies, and measurements. Students solve problems like converting currencies or calculating time zone differences.
"Mathopoly" Board Game: Design a problem-solving board game where players move through spaces by solving math problems. This interactive approach adds an element of fun while reinforcing math skills.
"Math Olympiad Simulation" Practice: Prepare a set of challenging math problems similar to those in Math Olympiad competitions. Have students work on these problems individually or in teams to sharpen their skills.
"Math Interview" Project: Assign each student a famous mathematician or scientist and provide a worksheet that guides them to research and create interview-style questions. This encourages exploration of math history and its relevance.
"Math Escape Room" Challenge: Develop a series of interconnected math problems that lead students through a virtual "escape room." They must solve each problem correctly to advance to the next step and eventually "escape."
"Data Analysis Report" Assignment: Provide students with a dataset related to a topic of interest, such as sports statistics or environmental data. They must analyze the data, create graphs, and present their findings in a structured report.
"Math and Music Fusion" Project: Combine math with music by providing a worksheet that explores concepts like rhythm, frequency, and ratios in music. Students can calculate beats per minute, analyze musical patterns, and even compose their own melodies.
"Math Recipe Creation" Challenge: Ask students to create a new recipe by adjusting ingredient quantities based on serving sizes. They must calculate ratios, proportions, and conversions to ensure the recipe's success.

Designing Effective Problem-Solving Worksheets

Creating successful problem-solving worksheets involves careful planning. Here are some ideas to consider:

Define the Learning Objective: Clarify the specific mathematical concept you want to reinforce with the worksheet. Outline the steps involved and determine how this worksheet will contribute to improving their skills.
Select a Problem Type: Choose a math problem type that aligns with the learning objective. It could involve algebraic equations, geometry calculations, or even practical scenarios related to everyday life.
Structure the Steps: Break down the problem-solving process into logical steps. Ensure that each step reflects the problem solving steps you want students to follow, such as understanding the problem, planning, solving, and verifying.
Incorporate Interactive Elements: Integrate interactive elements like multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, or even drawing areas to encourage problem solving exercises within the worksheet.
Utilize Graphic Organizers: Introduce a visual problem solving graphic organizer to help students map out their thinking. This can include spaces for writing down given information, variables, and equations.
Provide a Problem Solving Template: Offer a structured template that guides students through the problem-solving process. Include prompts and placeholders for each step to provide clear direction.
Encourage Exploration: Inspire students to explore different types of techniques to arrive at solutions. Encourage them to think critically and try various strategies before settling on an approach.

By incorporating these elements, you can create a comprehensive problem solving worksheet for kids that not only teaches mathematical concepts but also equips them with transferable skills. Whether you're focusing on basic arithmetic or more advanced mathematical principles, this approach ensures an engaging and educational experience for young learners.

More Storyboardthat Resources and Free Printables

Multiplication Worksheets
Subtraction Worksheets
Game Worksheets
Task Card Maker

How to Make a Problem Solving Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on “Copy Template”

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Problem Solving Worksheets

How can math problem-solving worksheets show students how to improve problem-solving skills.

They provide structured exercises that guide students through real-world scenarios. By actively engaging in these worksheets and activities, children can practice the problem solving process, enhancing their critical thinking and logical reasoning abilities.

What strategies can I use to teach problem-solving skills using math worksheets?

Incorporate helpful math problem solving worksheets for kids into your lessons. Support and encourage students to work through the problem-solving steps: understanding the problem, devising strategies, making calculations, and verifying their solutions. Provide examples, guidance, and feedback to nurture their problem-solving skills.

How can I ensure that students grasp the problem-solving process effectively?

Provide clear instructions in your math problem-solving worksheets that guide students through each step of the process. Offer examples and encourage them to discuss their approaches. By nurturing a supportive and collaborative environment, you can help both younger kids and older kids build confidence in their problem solving skills.

What are specific examples of how to teach problem-solving skills in math using pre-answered solution worksheets?

Teaching problem-solving skills in math using pre-answered solution worksheets can be exemplified through scenarios like quadratic equations. Present the class with a quadratic equation and a pre-answered solution that breaks down the steps of factoring or using the quadratic formula. This guides them to understand the process, identify key components, and apply appropriate methods. Similarly, for geometry, offer a challenging problem involving angles or area calculations, along with a pre-answered solution that demonstrates the application of relevant geometric principles. As students work through the problem and compare their reasoning with the pre-answered solution, they grasp problem-solving strategies, logical sequences, and the importance of meticulous calculations. In both cases, these worksheets instill confidence, reinforce systematic approaches, and enhance students' problem-solving skills while navigating mathematical complexities.

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

team building problem solving activities for employees
free problem solving games for adults
virtual problem solving activities for students
group problem solving activities
problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
undercover teams of agents and spies
challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
trails of evidence and hidden secrets
group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

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3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

teammates’ tastes and interests
company knowledge and history
industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

Moral machine
Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

Set up shelter
Explore the island
Try to signal for help
Make weapons for self-defense
Build a raft to escape the island
Start a fire
Choose a group leader
Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

Play an online role playing video game
Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

Human rights violation by powerful country
Food shortage
Disease epidemic
Technology privacy violations
Civil war branching into surrounding countries
Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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Home » Blog » General » Free Problem Solving Worksheets: Practical Tools for Success

Free Problem Solving Worksheets: Practical Tools for Success

As a Speech Language Pathologist and Social Emotional Learning expert, I understand the importance of problem-solving skills in personal growth and success. Developing the ability to effectively solve problems not only enhances our cognitive abilities but also plays a crucial role in our social and emotional well-being. In this blog post, I will introduce you to the world of free problem solving worksheets, which are practical tools that can help you develop and strengthen your problem-solving skills.

Understanding Problem Solving

Before we dive into the world of problem solving worksheets, let’s first understand what problem solving entails. Problem solving is the process of identifying, analyzing, and finding solutions to challenges or obstacles that we encounter in our daily lives. It involves critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity.

Effective problem solving consists of several key components. Firstly, it requires the ability to define the problem clearly and understand its underlying causes. Secondly, it involves generating multiple possible solutions and evaluating their potential outcomes. Lastly, it requires implementing and evaluating the chosen solution to determine its effectiveness.

Developing problem-solving skills offers numerous benefits. It enhances our ability to think critically, make informed decisions, and adapt to new situations. It also boosts our self-confidence and resilience, as we become more equipped to handle challenges and overcome obstacles.

The Role of Worksheets in Problem Solving

Worksheets are valuable tools that can facilitate the problem-solving process. They provide structure and guidance, allowing us to break down complex problems into manageable steps. Free problem solving worksheets offer several advantages:

Structured Approach: Worksheets provide a step-by-step framework for problem solving, ensuring that we cover all necessary aspects of the problem.
Visual Representation: Worksheets often include visual elements such as diagrams or charts, which can help us visualize the problem and potential solutions.
Practice and Reinforcement: Worksheets offer opportunities for practice and reinforcement of problem-solving skills, allowing us to apply what we have learned in a structured manner.

By incorporating worksheets into our problem-solving practice, we can enhance our social emotional learning. Social emotional learning (SEL) encompasses the development of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Problem solving is a key component of responsible decision-making, as it involves considering the impact of our choices on ourselves and others.

Exploring Free Problem Solving Worksheets

Now that we understand the value of problem solving worksheets, let’s explore the different types of worksheets available:

Step-by-step problem solving worksheets: These worksheets guide us through the problem-solving process, providing prompts and questions to help us analyze the problem, generate solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness.
Decision-making worksheets: Decision-making is a crucial aspect of problem solving. These worksheets focus on helping us make informed decisions by considering the pros and cons of different options.
Critical thinking worksheets: Critical thinking is an essential skill in problem solving. These worksheets encourage us to think deeply and critically about the problem, analyze information, and evaluate different perspectives.

There are several online resources where you can find free problem solving worksheets:

Educational websites: Many educational websites offer free resources for problem solving and social emotional learning. Examples include EverydaySpeech, Education.com, and Teach-nology.
Social emotional learning resources: SEL-focused websites and organizations often provide free problem solving worksheets as part of their curriculum. Look for websites like CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and SEL for Prevention.
Printable worksheet collections: Numerous websites offer collections of printable worksheets across various subjects, including problem solving. Websites like Super Teacher Worksheets and WorksheetWorks provide free options.

Tips for Effective Use of Problem Solving Worksheets

While using problem solving worksheets, it’s essential to keep a few tips in mind to maximize their effectiveness:

Set clear goals and objectives: Before starting a worksheet, clearly define what you want to achieve and what specific problem you want to address.
Provide guidance and support: If you’re using worksheets with children or students, offer guidance and support as they work through the problems. Encourage them to ask questions and provide explanations when needed.
Encourage reflection and self-assessment: After completing a worksheet, encourage reflection on the problem-solving process. Ask questions like, “What did you learn from this exercise?” or “How could you apply these problem-solving skills in other situations?”

Incorporating Problem Solving Worksheets in Social Emotional Learning

Problem solving worksheets can be integrated into various aspects of social emotional learning:

Integrating worksheets into SEL curriculum: Teachers and educators can incorporate problem solving worksheets into their SEL curriculum to enhance students’ problem-solving skills and promote responsible decision-making.
Using worksheets in individual therapy sessions: Speech Language Pathologists and therapists can utilize problem solving worksheets in individual therapy sessions to help clients develop their problem-solving abilities and improve their social emotional well-being.
Engaging students in group activities with worksheets: Group activities that involve problem solving worksheets can foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork among students, enhancing their social and emotional skills.

Problem solving skills are essential for personal growth and success. By developing these skills, we become better equipped to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and achieve our goals. Free problem solving worksheets offer practical tools that can enhance our problem-solving abilities and promote social emotional learning.

So, why not start incorporating free problem solving worksheets into your daily practice? Start your EverydaySpeech Free trial today and explore a wide range of problem solving worksheets and other social emotional learning resources. Take the first step towards unlocking your problem-solving potential and embark on a journey of personal growth and success!

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Preparing for Success: Enhancing Social Communication in Grade 12 Key Takeaways Strong social communication skills are crucial for academic success and building meaningful relationships in Grade 12. Social communication includes verbal and non-verbal communication,...

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Logic and Problem Solving Worksheets

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Title Teaching Kids Problem Solving Skills and an illustration of a kid with a magnifying glass

25 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

Problem-solving activities for kids : Explore 24 fun problem-solving games and activities, and learn effective tips and strategies to teach kids problem-solving skills. If you want to explore problem-solving strategies more in-depth, you can also grab our workbook “ Problem-Solving for Kids ” (printable resource).

Problem-solving is the cognitive process of finding solutions to challenges or complex situations.

A systematic approach to problem-solving tends to include defining the problem, gathering information and data, generating potential solutions, evaluating the pros and cons of each solution, making a decision, and implementing the chosen solution.

Effective problem-solving often requires critical thinking, a good dose of creativity, and the ability to consider multiple perspectives. It may also involve identifying patterns, breaking down a problem into manageable chunks, and applying our logic to develop solutions.

Problem-solving is present in everyday situations and across all fields: business, science, personal life, and education. There is not one single aspect in our lives where we don’t need to apply our problem-solving skills.

Table of Contents

Problem-solving steps
Development of problem-solving in childhood
Benefits of developing problem-solving skills
10 Tips to teach kids problem-solving skills
10 Examples of problem-solving strategies
25 Problem-solving activities and games for kids

Problem-Solving Steps

Some key components of problem-solving include:

Identifying the problem Recognizing and defining the issue or challenge that needs to be addressed.
Analyzing the problem Investigating and understanding the underlying causes, factors, and relationships related to the problem.
Generating solutions Generating potential solutions or strategies to address the problem.
Evaluating all possible solutions (Pros and Cons Analysis) Assessing the feasibility, effectiveness, and potential consequences of each solution. Considering the positive and negative aspects of each solution.
Decision-making Selecting the best solution based on our analysis and judgment.
Implementing the best solution Actioning our chosen solution
Monitoring progress and results
Reflecting on the outcomes Reviewing and evaluating the outcomes of the implemented solution, learning from the experience, and making adjustments if necessary.

Development of Problem-Solving Skills in Childhood

Children begin to develop problem-solving skills from a very early age, and these skills continue to develop and refine throughout childhood and adolescence.

Babies soon learn about action and reaction. And, as early as eight months, they begin to acquire an understanding of cause and effect (they shake a rattle, it makes a sound; they push a toy, it falls)

Between 13 and 24 months, they start solving simple problems through trial and error and engage in symbolic play using their imagination.

As children progress into middle childhood (ages 7-11), they develop more advanced problem-solving skills. They become capable of understanding multiple perspectives and can consider multiple factors when solving problems. They start using logic and reasoning to solve increasingly complex problems.

During adolescence (ages 12 and up), problem-solving skills continue to develop. Teenagers can generate and test hypotheses and use deductive and inductive reasoning to arrive at solutions.

Each child will develop their problem-solving skills at their own pace. Some children may show advanced problem-solving abilities at an earlier age. Others may require more time and experience to develop these skills fully.

Benefits of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in Children

Problem-solving skills in children are crucial for children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. It equips them to approach challenges, think critically, make informed decisions, and find creative solutions.

The benefits of good problem-solving skills in children include:

Positive impact on self-esteem and confidence Identifying, analyzing, and solving their problems contributes to our kids’ sense of competence .
Fosters Independence and Autonomy When our kids are able to problem-solve on their own, they take one more step toward independence
Academic Success Problem-solving skills contribute to academic achievement, as they help students analyze and solve complex problems across various subjects.
Cognitive Development Problem-solving fosters cognitive skills such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and abstract reasoning.
Critical Thinking Problem-solving enhances critical thinking abilities, enabling children to evaluate information, identify biases, and make informed judgments.
Creativity Problem-solving promotes creativity by encouraging children to think outside the box, generate innovative ideas, and explore multiple solutions.
Emotional Resilience Problem-solving skills enhance emotional resilience by enabling children to manage and cope with challenges effectively, reducing stress and promoting well-being.
Improved Social Interactions/Relationships Problem-solving abilities contribute to better social interactions, conflict resolution , and peer collaboration, promoting healthy relationships.
Future career success Problem-solving skills are highly valued in the workplace and can positively influence future career success.

10+ Helpful Tips to Teach Kids Problem-Solving Skills

Teaching problem-solving skills to kids is an important part of their cognitive development. It helps them develop critical thinking, creativity, and resilience.

But how can we help our kids and students to develop this essential skill?

We can help our kids and students develop and improve their problem-solving skills in many ways. These are some helpful tips that you could consider:

Model problem-solving behavior When you see yourself in a problem-solving situation, verbalize your thought process: “I wonder how I should address this issue. I guess my alternatives could be… They all have positives and negatives….”
Let them participate in the problem-solving situation “Could you help me solve this puzzle?”
Provide real-life problem-solving situations Real-life scenarios make problem-solving more meaningful for kids. For example, discuss how to resolve a conflict with a sibling or how to make the morning routine smoother.
Teach them how to break down problems Show them how to break down complex problems into manageable sub-problems.
Practice brainstorming Create brainstorming situations where all the family (or the classroom) can contribute to solving a problem
Teach the value of perseverance Sometimes, we must stick to a situation and persevere before finding a solution. Encourage kids to persevere through challenges and setbacks, emphasizing that mistakes and failures are opportunities for learning.
Encourage critical thinking Encourage kids to analyze situations, consider different perspectives, and evaluate possible outcomes.
How could we make your school lunch healthier but still yummy?
How could we reuse/recycle all this paper?
What could we do to help you remember all the steps in your night routine?
Encourage reflection When they can find a solution for a problem, don’t jump to solve it for them. Encourage them to reflect on the problem and find and evaluate alternatives. And after a problem is solved, think about the whole process and the learnings. “How did this work?” “What did you learn” “Do you need to change anything?”
Foster creativity Provide them with opportunities for imaginative play, creative projects, and brainstorming sessions.
Teach the value of teamwork Teach kids the importance of working together to solve problems. Engage them in group activities or projects that require teamwork and collaboration. This helps kids learn the value of different perspectives and work together towards an objective while they practice their communication skills.
Teach decision-making skills Teach kids how to approach problems systematically by going through the steps we have mentioned in our first section.
Encourage both structured and free play. Structured play can help you create good problem-solving situations, while free play will foster creativity.

Developing problem-solving skills is an ongoing process that will also continue in adulthood. Provide your kids with guidance and support, and celebrate their efforts and achievements along the way.

Examples of worksheet for kids on problem-solving strategies

10 Examples of Problem-Solving Strategies

There are different strategies that can help us solve a wide range of problems. Here are some commonly recognized problem-solving strategies:

1 . Trial and Error : This is the first problem strategy that we ever learn. We start using trial and error strategies in infancy, and it continues serving its purpose in many situations. This strategy involves trying different solutions or approaches and learning from the errors or failures until a successful solution is found.

2. Algorithm: An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or a set of rules that guarantees a solution to a specific problem. It is a systematic approach to problem-solving that follows a predetermined set of instructions.

3. Heuristics: Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that help simplify problem-solving by providing quick and efficient strategies. While heuristics can be effective in many situations, they may also lead to biases and errors.

4. Divide and Conquer: This strategy involves breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable chunks or steps that make the overall problem easier to tackle.

5. Working Backwards: This strategy involves starting from the desired outcome and working backward to determine the steps or actions needed to reach that outcome. We often use this problem-solving strategy when we set goals.

6. Analogical Reasoning: Analogical reasoning involves drawing parallels between the current problem and a similar problem that has been solved in the past. By applying the solution from the previous problem to the current one, individuals can find a solution more efficiently.

7. Brainstorming: Brainstorming gets lots of brains working on the same problem. It is a great collaborative problem-solving strategy that can bring different perspectives and experiences to the table and may result in lots of creative ideas and solutions.

8. Decision Matrix: A decision matrix is a systematic approach to evaluating and comparing different options or solutions. It involves creating a matrix that lists alternatives and the criteria for evaluation. It assigns weights or scores to each criterion to come up with the optimal alternative.

9. Root Cause Analysis: Sometimes, we need to understand what is causing a problem before we can attempt to solve it, as different causes may require different approaches (for example, when you are sick, your doctor may need to understand what is causing the problem before prescribing a medicine)

10. Simulation and Modeling: Simulation involves creating a simplified representation or model of a problem situation to gain insights and test different scenarios.

Our choice of strategy will depend on the problem, available resources, and our own personal preferences and circumstances. We may also need to combine strategies or apply different ones to different aspects of a complex problem.

Workbook for kids on Problem solving strategies

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Best Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Play-based activities are centered around play and are designed to engage children in active learning and exploration. And fun problem-solving activities are a great way to develop children’s critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making skills.

In this section, we will review some problem-solving games and activities that will engage your kids’ critical-thinking skills and creativity.

1. Puzzle Games Puzzles are a fun activity for children of all ages. Young children will enjoy simple puzzles, while older children (and adults!) can have fun with more complex ones. Encourage them to use logical thinking and problem-solving strategies to complete the puzzles.

2. Crosswords A crossword is another fun type of puzzle and a good source of mental stimulation.

3. Sudoku Sudoku is a popular logic-based puzzle that involves filling a grid with numbers.

It can be extremely easy or very challenging, adaptable even for young learners.

Let’s go now for a couple of building challenges!

4. Build the Tallest Tower Give the child a set of materials (Legos, building blocks, wooden blocks, or other construction materials) and ask them to build the tallest tower they can. This simple game will encourage them to problem-solve as they build and figure out how to make the tower stable.

5. Build Towers with Different Materials Ask your child to build three different towers with different materials. Then assess how stable they are and how much weight they can hold. Analyze the pros and cons of using each type of material.

6. Treasure Hunt Set up a treasure hunt with clues leading to hidden objects or rewards. Children will have to follow the clues and solve puzzles to find the ultimate prize. This activity encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.

7. Scavenger Hunt Playing Scavenger Hunt can be a fun way for our kids to put their creative problem-solving skills to good use. Provide them with clues and puzzles that they must solve in order to find the next clue.

8. Mystery Bag Fill a bag with random objects and ask children to come up with creative uses for each item. Encourage them to think outside the box and find innovative solutions.

9. Memory Game While memory games primarily focus on memory retention and recall, they can indirectly contribute to problem-solving skills by developing cognitive abilities such as attention, information processing, and adjusting their strategies.

10. Role-Playing Scenarios Create role-playing scenarios where children have to solve a problem or make decisions. For example, pretend to be stranded on a desert island and ask them to decide what items they will take and how they will survive.

11. Role-Play Social Situations Work in developing social skills with social problem-solving situations.

12. Brainstorming Sessions Choose a topic or problem and hold brainstorming sessions where children can generate as many ideas as possible. Encourage them not to limit themselves (even if alternatives feel unfeasible!)

13. Team Building Activities and Games Engage children in team-building games like building a balloon tower. Each team member will need to collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve together to complete the project.

14. Escape Rooms An escape room is a super fun team problem-solving activity.

In an escape room, participants are locked inside a themed room and must work together to solve puzzles, find clues, and accomplish tasks within a given time limit in order to “escape” from the room.

15. Science Experiments Conduct simple science experiments that involve problem-solving. For example, in the classic “sink or float” experiment, children predict and test which objects will sink or float in water.

Problem-Solving Board Games

There are many board games that will test our kids problems solving activities. These are just a few examples:

16. Cluedo Players must solve a murder mystery by deducing the murderer, the weapon used, and the location of the crime. Players collect and examine clues to eliminate possibilities and make logical deductions.

17. Codenames Another classic game where players are split into two teams and must guess words based on clues from their teammates.

There are many codenames games available, including themes like Disney or Harry Potter.

18. Mastermind Game In this strategy game players take turns setting and solving secret codes

19. Scrabble Scrabble is a classic word game where players form words on a game board using letter tiles.

Kids must use their problem-solving skills to analyze the available letters, consider the best word combination and strategically place those words to score the highest points.

Learning Problem-Solving with Card Games

Card games provide opportunities for kids to develop problem-solving skills such as strategy, memory, pattern recognition, decision-making, and observation.

Just a couple of examples:

20. Uno Uno is a classic card game where kids match cards based on color or number. They need to assess their cards, strategize and make decisions about which cards to play to get rid of their cards while also considering the cards in their opponents’ hands.

21. Go Fish Go Fish is a classic card game where players try to collect sets of cards by asking other players if they have specific cards. Players need to remember which cards they have and make decisions about who to ask and what sets to pursue.

22. Coding Challenges Introduce children to coding activities using platforms like Scratch (or ScratchJr for younger kids), Code.org, or Tynker. Coding involves problem-solving and logical thinking, and children can create interactive stories, games, or animations.

23. Outdoor Problem Solving Take children outside and present them with challenges that require problem-solving, such as building a shelter using natural materials or finding their way through an obstacle course.

24. Problem-Solving Worksheets Help your child follow a systematic approach to problem-solving with these helpful worksheets

25. Goal-Setting Activities for Kids Learning to set goals and make plans to achieve them is also a problem-solving activity. I have several resources to teach kids about goal-setting that I will list below:

Goal-Setting Activities for Kids
SMART Goals for Kids
Goal Tracker Thermometer

Remember to provide guidance and support during these activities while encouraging children to think independently and come up with their own solutions.

Problem-Solving Worksheets

Problem Solving Strategies_Workbook for Kids

Looking for kid-friendly examples of problem-solving strategies ?

This workbook explores the following problem-solving strategies (with child-friendly examples and activities):

Trial and Error
Heuristics (Clever shortcuts)
Divide and Conquer
Working Backwards
Brainstorming
Decision Matrix
Root Cause Analysis
Systematic problem-solving

Kid in a bubble that represents personal space and title "Personal Space Activities for Kids"

One Comment

I always look forward to your articles with active interventions. Thank you!

Problem-Solving Skills Worksheets for Kids

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Question/answer, how to test a grade 2 student’s problem-solving skills skills.

To test a Grade 2 student's problem-solving skills, present them with age-appropriate puzzles or challenges that require logical thinking, such as simple math word problems, pattern recognition tasks, and basic puzzles (e.g., jigsaw puzzles or mazes). Ensure the tasks vary in complexity and context to assess their ability to apply problem-solving strategies across different scenarios.

Why is the Problem-Solving Skills skill important for Grade 2 students?

Problem-solving skills are crucial for Grade 2 students as they help in developing critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to navigate challenges. These skills enable students to approach tasks and obstacles in a structured manner, fostering independence and confidence. Early development of these skills lays a strong foundation for academic success and real-world problem-solving in their futures.

How does the mastery of the Problem-Solving Skills skill affect a student's performance at an early age?

The mastery of problem-solving skills at an early age significantly enhances a student's performance by improving their ability to analyze situations, think critically, make decisions, and overcome obstacles. This foundational skill not only boosts academic success but also fosters independence, creativity, and resilience, preparing them for complex future challenges in both their educational journey and life experiences.

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10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Schedules & Action

Erkenntnisbezogen science story us that we regularly face not only well-defined problem nevertheless, importantly, plenty that are ill define (Eysenck & Keane, 2015).

Sometimes, we find oneself unable until overcome our daily problems or the inevitable (though hopefully infrequent) life hurts we face.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce and event and impact of mental health messes and enhancing wellbeing by assistance clients face life’s difficulties (Dobson, 2011). 22 Executive Functioning Activities required Adult - ADULT ADDRESS PHYSICAL

This article introduces Problem-Solving Therapy and offers techniques, activities, and worksheets that psychic health professionals can used with clients.

Before you continue, we thought you might see to download his three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based workouts explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, our, and self-compassion, and will supply you the tools in refine the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employee.

This Article Contains:

What Remains Problem-Solving Therapy?
14 Steps for Problem-Solving Therapy
3 Best Interventions and Engineering

7 Activities and Worksheets for Your Session

Enchanting Books at the Topic

Resources From ijr.app

A take-home message, what is problem-solving therapy.

Problem-Solving Medicine assumes that mental disorders arise included response at ineffective otherwise maladaptive coping. By adopted a more realistic and optimistic view of coping, individuals can understand the role of emotions furthermore develop actions to reduce distress and maintain mental comfort (Nezu & Nezu, 2009).

“Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychosocial operative, total considered to be go a cognitive-behavioral umbrella” (Nezu, Nezu, & D’Zurilla, 2013, p. ix). It aims to encourage the customer to cope better on day-to-day problems and traumatic events and reduce their impact off mental and physic wellbeing. Browse Printable Arithmetic Word Problem Worksheets. Award gaining educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

Cellular research, counseling, and health psychology have shown PST to be highly actual in my of all ages, extend from young to the elderly, across many clinical surroundings, including schizophrenia, stressed, and anxiety disorders (Dobson, 2011). 10 Optimal Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

Can it helped with depressive?

PST displayed specially helpful in treating clients in depression. A recent analysis of 30 studies found so PST was an effective treatment with a similar final by success as another successful therapies targeting depression (Cuijpers, Wit, Kleiboer, Karyotaki, & Ebert, 2020).

Other studies confirm the value of PST and him effectiveness at treating depression in multiple age groups and own capacity to connect with other therapies, includes drug treatments (Dobson, 2011). Problem Solving

Aforementioned major business

Effectual coping varies subject on the situation, and treatment typically focuses on enhancements of environment and reducing emotional distress (Dobson, 2011). 4th grade word problem worksheets including multiplication and division word problems, fraction and decimal word problems, measurement word problems and mixed speak what. Don log mandatory.

PST is based on two intersecting models:

Social problem-solving model

This pattern focuses on solving the feature “as a occured in the innate social environment,” combined with a general coping strategy and an method of self-control (Dobson, 2011, p. 198).

To model includes triple key concepts:

Social problem-solving
The problem
The solution

The model is a “self-directed cognitive-behavioral edit by any an individual, couple, instead group attempts to identify or discover effective solutions for specific problems encountered in everyday living” (Dobson, 2011, p. 199).

Relational problem-solving model

The supposition concerning PST is underpinned on a relational problem-solving model, whereby stress is viewed in terms of the relationships between three factors:

Stressful life tour
Emotional distress and feel
Problem-solving coping

Therefore, when a significant adverse life event occurs, it may require “sweeping readjustments are a person’s life” (Dobson, 2011, p. 202).

14 Steps used Problem-Solving Pain

Enhance positive problem orientation
Decrease negative orientation
Foster ability in apply rational problem-solving your
Reduce the tendency to avoid problem-solving
Minimize the tendency for be careless and impulsive

D’Zurilla’s and Nezu’s model includes (modified from Dobson, 2011):

Beginning structuring Establish adenine posative therapeutic your that promotes confidence and explains the PST approach.
Assessment Formally and informally assess scale to tension in the client’s your and their problem-solving strengths and weaknesses.
Obstacles at effective problem-solving Explore typically human challenges until problem-solving, such as multitasking and the negative impact of stress. Introduce tools that can help, such while making lists, visualization, and breaking complex problems down.
Finding orientation – nurture self-efficacy Introduce the importance of ampere plus problem orientation, adopted tools, such as visualization, at promote self-efficacy.
Create orientation – recognizing problems Help clients recognize issues as they occur and employ problem checklists to ‘normalize’ the experience.
Problem orientation – watching problems as key Encourage clientele to crack cost-free about harmful and unlimited ways of thinking while learning how to argue from another point of view.
Problem orientation – exercise or control emotions Help clients understand the role of emotions are problem-solving, including using feelings for inform the process also managing disruptive emotions (such when cognitive reframing and relaxation exercises).
Problem orientation – stop and think Teach clients how to reduce passive and avoidance directions (visualizing a end sign or traffic light).
Problem explanation and formulation Encourage and understanding of the nature of trouble or set realistic goals and our.
Age of choices Work with clients at find they recognize the wide range of potential solutions to each problem (for example, brainstorming).
Decision-making Encourage better decision-making through an improved comprehension starting the consequences of decisions and the range and likelihood of different outcomes.
Solution implementation and verification Foster the client’s ability to portable out a solution design, monitor its outcome, evaluate its effectiveness, and use self-reinforcement to increase the chance of success.
Guided practice Encourage the application of problem-solving skills across many domains and future stressful problems.
Rapid problem-solving Teach clients how to apply problem-solving questions and guidelines quickly in any given situation.

Success in PST depends on the effectiveness of its implementation; using the right method is crucial (Dobson, 2011).

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

3 best interventions furthermore techniques.

The below interventions and techniques are helpful when implementing more effective problem-solving approaches in client’s lives.

First, it is essential to consider if PST are the better get for the your, based on an specific they present.

Is PPT appropriate?

Computer is vital to consider determines PST has appropriate for the client’s situation. Therapists brand to the approach may require additional guidance (Nezu et al., 2013).

Therapists should think the following questions before beginning PST with a client (modified from Nezu net al., 2013):

Has PST proven inefficient in the bygone for the problem? For model, research has shown success with depression, generalized anxiety, back pain, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and supporting caregivers (Nezu et al., 2013).
Is PST tolerable to the client?
Is the individual experiencing a significant mental or physical health fix?

All favourable answers suggest that PST would be adenine helpful technique to apply in this instance.

Five problem-solving measures

Aforementioned subsequent five ladder are valuable when jobs with clients to help them cope with and manage their environment (modified from Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to consider the below points (forming of shortcut ADAPT) when confronted by a problem:

Attitude Aim to apply a sure, optimistic attitude to aforementioned problem and problem-solving process.
Define Obtain all required facts and get off potential obstacles in define the problem.
Options Identify various replacement custom and actions to overcome the obstacle and achieve the problem-solving gear.
Predict Predict each alternative’s positive press negative outcomes also choose the one most likely to achieve the intention and maximize the benefits.
Tries outbound Once selected, seek out an solution and supervise its efficacy while appealing in self-reinforcement.

If the client is not content equipped their solution, they can return to step ‘A’ and find a more appropriate solution.

Positive self-statements

When dealing using client toward negative self-beliefs, it cannot be helpful available them to use definite self-statements.

Used the following (or add new) self-statements to replace destructive, negative thinking (modified of Dobson, 2011):

I can solve this problem; I’ve tackled similar singles before.
I cans cope with these.
I just need to bring a breath and relax.
Einmal I start, e determination be lightweight.
It’s okay to look out for myself.
I can get help if needed.
Other people feel the same fashion I do.
I’ll take on piece of the problem to a time.
I can keeps my fears in check.
I don’t need into please everyone.

5 Worksheets and workbook

Problem-solving self-monitoring form.

Answering the questions by of Problem-Solving Self-Monitoring Input gives to therapist with necessary information regarding the client’s overall also specific problem-solving addresses and reactivity (Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to complete the following:

Label an problem you is facing.
What is your goal?
Get have she tried so far to solve one trouble?
What was this outcome?

Reactions to Stresses

It can be helpful for the client to see their customized experiences the stress. Do they react angrily, withdraw, or give up (Dobson, 2011)?

The Reactivity to Stress worksheet can shall provided the the guest as homework to capture stressful events furthermore my response. From recording how handful felt, behaved, and thought, they can recognize repeating patterns.

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Helping our capture triggers to her stressfull reactions can encourage emotional regulation.

When customer can identify triggers that may lead in a negative response, they can stopping the experience or slow down their emotional reaction (Dobson, 2011).

The What Are Their Unique Triggers ? worksheet helps the client identify their triggers (e.g., conflict, relationships, physical setting, etc.).

Problem-Solving worksheet

Imagining an existing or potential problem and worked through how to solve it can be a powerful exercise for the client.

Use the Problem-Solving calculation to state a problem and goal and consider the barrier in one way. Then exploratory options for attainment the goal, along includes their pros and cons, to assess the superior action plant.

Getting the Facts

Clients could become better equipped on tackle problems and choose the right course regarding action by recognizing facts versus assumptions and gathering all the requirement contact (Dobson, 2011).

Use the Getting aforementioned Facts worksheet to response the following faq clearly press plainly:

Who is involved?
What did otherwise does not happen, and as did it bother yourself?
Where did he happen?
Wenn did to events?
Conundrum does items befall?
How been you respond?

2 Helpful Group Activities

While physician can use the worksheets above in group situations, the following two interventions work particularly well with more than one name.

Generating Alternative Solutions also Better Decision-Making

A group setting can provide an exemplar opportunity to share a feature and identify potential solutions arising from multiple perspectives.

Uses the Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making worksheet and ask the client to explain to situation or problem to an group and who obstacles in the method.

Once the proximity are captured and reviewed, this individual sack share yours decision-making process with who group if the want further feedback.

Visualization

Visualization can be performed with individuals or in a group settings to help clients release problems in multiple roads, including (Dobson, 2011):

Clarifying the problem by looking at it from multiple perspectives
Rehearsing an solution in of mind to improve and get more practice
Visualizing a ‘safe place’ required relaxation, slowing down, and stress management

Guided images is particularly valuable for encouraging the group to take a ‘mental vacation’ and let go of stress.

Ask aforementioned group to begin equipped slow, deepness breathing that fills the entire midriff. After ask she to visualize an favorite scenes (real or imagined) such manufactured them feel relaxed, possibly beside a gently flowing river, one summer meadow, or at the beach. Explore these best problem-solving activities for kids to keep them amuse throughout the day while building growth skills in them

The more the senses are fired, and more real the experience. Ask the group to think about what they can hear, understand, press, smell, additionally even taste.

Support them to experience aforementioned situation as fully as maybe, immersing themselves and enjoying their place of safety.

Such feelings of relaxation may be able to support clients fall asleep, relieve stress, and become more ready to remove problems.

Fascinating Books on the Topic

Person have included three of our favorite books on of subject of Problem-Solving Therapy below.

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: ADENINE Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Crith Maguth Nezu, also Robert D’Zurilla

This is an incredibly valuable book for anyone wishing to understand the principles and practice behind PST.

Spell by the co-developers of PST, the manual offer powerful toolkits to overcome cognitive overload, emotional dysregulation, and the barriers to sensible problem-solving. Instructions your clients and sets through aforementioned problem solving process with the help of the Problem Solvent Packet. Respectively page covers one by five problem solving...

Find the reserve on Amazon .

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Procedure Instructions – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

Additional, more recent, volume from the create of PST, this text includes vital advances in conservation underpinning and role von emotion in behavioral treatment.

Ahead with clinical examples, the book also includes crucial toolkits that form part out a stepped model for the application of PST.

Find the buy on Amazonia .

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

This are the fill edit of a massive popular guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Remedies and includes a valuable and insightful section on Problem-Solving Therapy.

This is an important book for students and get experienced therapists wishing to entry a high-level and in-depth sympathy out the tools and techniques available to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.

Find the get on Amazon .

For even learn tools to help strengthen your clients’ problem-solving your, inspection out this following get worksheets from our blog.

Case Language Worksheet This workbook presents ampere four-step framework into help therapists and their clients come to one shared understanding of the client’s presenting problem.
Understanding Your Default Problem-Solving Approach This questionnaire poses a series of questions helping shoppers reflect on their typical cognitive, sensitive, both behavioral responses to problems.
Social Problem Resolving: Step by Select On worksheet presents a streamlined template to help clients definitions ampere feature, generate likely courses of action, and evaluate the effectiveness starting an implemented solution.
17 Positive Students Exercises If you’re seek required more science-based ways to help others enhance their wellbeing, check out this signature collection of 17 validated positive psychology accessory for practitioners . Use them to help others flourish and thrive.

While we are inbred problem-solvers, facing an incredibly diverse set of challenges everyday, we often need support.

Problem-Solving Therapy goals to reduce stress and associated mental health disorders furthermore improve wellbeing by improving our ability to cope. PST is precious in diverse clinical settings, ranging from depression to mental, with research suggesting it as one highly effective treatment for teaching coping strategies furthermore reducing emotional distress. Understanding EL critical thinking and issue removal our, topic-based lessons and worksheets to help your apprentices learn how to thin criticism.

Many PST techniques are currently up help improve clients’ positive look on obstacles while reducing avoids is problem situation and to tendency into be careless real impetuously.

The PST models typically valued the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies when faceplate problems before encouraging a healthy experience starting real relationship with problem-solving.

Why not application this article to explore the theory behind PST and endeavour out some of our powerful tools and interventions is your clients to help the with their decision-making, coping, and problem-solving? Problem Solving Packet (Worksheet) | Therapist Aid

We hope you enjoyed lesungen this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Studying Exercises for free .

Cuijpers, P., Wit, L., Kleiboer, A., Karyotaki, E., & Audience, D. (2020). Problem-solving remedy forward adult depression: One updated meta-analysis. In P sychiatry , 48 (1), 27–37.
Telescope, K. SIEMENS. (2011). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2021). Handbook the cognitive-behavioral therapies (4th ed.). Guest Press.
Eysenck, M. W., & Keen, M. T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook . Psychology Press.
Nezu, ONE. M., & Nezu, C. THOUSAND. (2009). Problem-solving therapy DVD . Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310852
Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2018). Emotion-centered problem-solving medical: Treatment guidelines. Springer.
Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2013). Problem-solving therapy: A treatment manual . Springer.

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10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons

M athematics is a fundamental subject that shapes the way children think and analyze the world. At the primary school level, laying a strong foundation is crucial. While hands-on activities, digital tools, and interactive discussions play significant roles in learning, worksheets remain an essential tool for reinforcing concepts, practicing skills, and assessing understanding. Here’s a look at some helpful worksheets for primary school math lessons.

Comparison Chart Worksheets

Comparison charts provide a visual means for primary school students to grasp relationships between numbers or concepts. They are easy to make at www.storyboardthat.com/create/comparison-chart-template , and here is how they can be used:

Quantity Comparison: Charts might display two sets, like apples vs. bananas, prompting students to determine which set is larger.
Attribute Comparison: These compare attributes, such as different shapes detailing their number of sides and characteristics.
Number Line Comparisons: These help students understand number magnitude by placing numbers on a line to visualize their relative sizes.
Venn Diagrams: Introduced in later primary grades, these diagrams help students compare and contrast two sets of items or concepts.
Weather Charts: By comparing weather on different days, students can learn about temperature fluctuations and patterns.

Number Recognition and Counting Worksheets

For young learners, recognizing numbers and counting is the first step into the world of mathematics. Worksheets can offer:

Number Tracing: Allows students to familiarize themselves with how each number is formed.
Count and Circle: Images are presented, and students have to count and circle the correct number.
Missing Numbers: Sequences with missing numbers that students must fill in to practice counting forward and backward.

Basic Arithmetic Worksheets

Once students are familiar with numbers, they can start simple arithmetic.

Addition and Subtraction within 10 or 20: Using visual aids like number lines, counters, or pictures can be beneficial.
Word Problems: Simple real-life scenarios can help students relate math to their daily lives.
Skip Counting: Worksheets focused on counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s.

Geometry and Shape Worksheets

Geometry offers a wonderful opportunity to relate math to the tangible world.

Shape Identification: Recognizing and naming basic shapes such as squares, circles, triangles, etc.
Comparing Shapes: Worksheets that help students identify differences and similarities between shapes.
Pattern Recognition: Repeating shapes in patterns and asking students to determine the next shape in the sequence.

Measurement Worksheets

Measurement is another area where real-life application and math converge.

Length and Height: Comparing two or more objects and determining which is longer or shorter.
Weight: Lighter vs. heavier worksheets using balancing scales as visuals.
Time: Reading clocks, days of the week, and understanding the calendar.

Data Handling Worksheets

Even at a primary level, students can start to understand basic data representation.

Tally Marks: Using tally marks to represent data and counting them.
Simple Bar Graphs: Interpreting and drawing bar graphs based on given data.
Pictographs: Using pictures to represent data, which can be both fun and informative.

Place Value Worksheets

Understanding the value of each digit in a number is fundamental in primary math.

Identifying Place Values: Recognizing units, tens, hundreds, etc., in a given number.
Expanding Numbers: Breaking down numbers into their place value components, such as understanding 243 as 200 + 40 + 3.
Comparing Numbers: Using greater than, less than, or equal to symbols to compare two numbers based on their place values.

Fraction Worksheets

Simple fraction concepts can be introduced at the primary level.

Identifying Fractions: Recognizing half, quarter, third, etc., of shapes or sets.
Comparing Fractions: Using visual aids like pie charts or shaded drawings to compare fractions.
Simple Fraction Addition: Adding fractions with the same denominator using visual aids.

Money and Real-Life Application Worksheets

Understanding money is both practical and a great way to apply arithmetic.

Identifying Coins and Notes: Recognizing different denominations.
Simple Transactions: Calculating change, adding up costs, or determining if there’s enough money to buy certain items.
Word Problems with Money: Real-life scenarios involving buying, selling, and saving.

Logic and Problem-Solving Worksheets

Even young students can hone their problem-solving skills with appropriate challenges.

Sequences and Patterns: Predicting the next item in a sequence or recognizing a pattern.
Logical Reasoning: Simple puzzles or riddles that require students to think critically.
Story Problems: Reading a short story and solving a math-related problem based on the context.

Worksheets allow students to practice at their own pace, offer teachers a tool for assessment, and provide parents with a glimpse into their child’s learning progression. While digital tools and interactive activities are gaining prominence in education, the significance of worksheets remains undiminished. They are versatile and accessible and, when designed creatively, can make math engaging and fun for young learners.

The post 10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons appeared first on Mom and More .

Mathematics is a fundamental subject that shapes the way children think and analyze the world. At the primary school level, laying a strong foundation is crucial. While hands-on activities, digital tools, and interactive discussions play significant roles in learning, worksheets remain an essential tool for reinforcing concepts, practicing skills, and assessing understanding. Here’s a look […]

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10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities
We have included three of our favorite books on the subject of Problem-Solving Therapy below. 1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual - Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D'Zurilla. This is an incredibly valuable book for anyone wishing to understand the principles and practice behind PST.
Problem Solving Packet
Favorite. Guide your clients and groups through the problem solving process with the help of the Problem Solving Packet. Each page covers one of five problem solving steps with a rationale, tips, and questions. The steps include defining the problem, generating solutions, choosing one solution, implementing the solution, and reviewing the process.
Problem Solving
Consider your own behavior, as well as external factors. Define your problem. Be as clear and comprehensive as possible. If there are many parts to your problem, describe each of them. TIP: If you find it difficult to separate your emotions from the problem, try to complete this step from the perspective of an impartial friend.
Team Building Exercises
Problem solving and decision making team building activities foster engagement, improve communication and encourage cooperation and group interaction. ... Download and print our team-building exercises worksheet to help you with this exercise. Uses. This activity builds problem-solving skills as team members analyze information, negotiate and ...
10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities
Problem-Solving worksheet. Imagining an existing or potential problem and works durch how to resolve i can be an powerful exercise for the client. Use to Problem-Solving worksheet to state a problem plus goal and study the obstacles included and road. When explore option for accomplishing the object, along with their pros and cons, to assess ...
Problem Solving Worksheet
Problem-solving is the process of defining a problem, identifying its root cause, prioritizing and selecting potential solutions and implementing the chosen solution. The underlying theories behind this worksheet include the principles of cognitive-behavioral theories and problem-solving theories. The relevant therapies may include:
Free problem solving resources
Get the full version:Multiplication Word Problems - Equal Groups - Arrays This resource includes 2 multiplication word problems (1 digit X 1 digit). Each problem requires students to write an equation, a repeated addition, and a solution sentence. In addition, the students will represent the problems with equal groups or arrays.
Problem Solving Worksheets: Free Printable Templates
How can math problem-solving worksheets show students how to improve problem-solving skills? They provide structured exercises that guide students through real-world scenarios. By actively engaging in these worksheets and activities, children can practice the problem solving process, enhancing their critical thinking and logical reasoning ...
Problem Solving Worksheets
Check out the preview to see a visual of the 3 different ways this resource can be used. The Cut and Paste activity is great for younger children, while the blank Circ. Subjects: Problem Solving, School Counseling, Special Education. Grades: K - 3 rd. Types: Worksheets, Activities, Lesson. $4.50.
Free problem solving worksheets
Pair these problem solving task cards with the no-prep STEAM / STEM printable worksheet for a great back to school resource. Include them in your Makerspace, STEM bins, morning tubs, centers, as a reward, or as an activity for early finishers. Perfect for classrooms, homeschool, and even parents looking for fun, adven.
Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults
Learn more about War of the Wizards. 4. Sudoku. Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge.
44 Powerful Problem Solving Activities for Kids
By honing their problem-solving abilities, we're preparing kids to face the unforeseen challenges of the world outside. Enhances Cognitive Growth: Otherwise known as cognitive development. Problem-solving isn't just about finding solutions. It's about thinking critically, analyzing situations, and making decisions.
Free Problem Solving Worksheets: Practical Tools for Success
Step-by-step problem solving worksheets: These worksheets guide us through the problem-solving process, providing prompts and questions to help us analyze the problem, generate solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness. Decision-making worksheets: Decision-making is a crucial aspect of problem solving. These worksheets focus on helping us ...
Logic and Problem Solving Worksheets
Number Puzzles (Grade 2) Students use clues to solve each number puzzle in this math worksheet. The final puzzle is a Venn diagram with numbers. Subjects: Logic and Problem Solving. Comparing Values. Mathematics. Download. Add to Favorites.
17 Fun Problem Solving Activities & Games [for Kids ...
For this problem solving activity for older kids or teens, you will need four 2×6 boards. Divide your group into two teams with an equal number of children on each team. Place two of the four boards end to end on the ground or floor. Set the other two parallel to the first two about two or three feet apart.
22 Executive Functioning Activities For Adults
5) Practical Math Worksheets. Use simple but practical math problems to practice problem-solving strategies. Move beyond worksheets to real-life activities as soon as possible! Patient Instructions: Use a calculator and pen and paper as needed. Your one-week car rental is $400. How much does each day cost? Your bill for a meal is $30.
25 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids
Children will have to follow the clues and solve puzzles to find the ultimate prize. This activity encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. 7. Scavenger Hunt. Playing Scavenger Hunt can be a fun way for our kids to put their creative problem-solving skills to good use.
Free Problem-Solving Skills Worksheets for Kids
Problem-Solving Skills Worksheets for Kids. Printable worksheets. Lessons. Educational videos. Quizzes. Learning games. Discover engaging problem-solving worksheets for kids to enhance critical thinking and analytical skills. Fun, printable activities for young learners!
Critical Thinking Problem Solving ESL Activities Games Lessons
ESL Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Activity - Speaking: Ranking, Guided Discussion, Guessing, Communicative Practice - Group Work - Upper-intermediate (B2) - 30 minutes. In this communicative critical thinking and problem-solving activity, students guess what criteria was used to put a list of ten jobs in order.
Free problem solving games
It is a 3 in 1 puzzle escape room. This free puzzle pack includes fun variations to help exercise students' problem-solving, critical thinking, and math skills. Great to hel. Subjects: End of Year, Math, Problem Solving. Grades: 3 rd - 12 th, Higher Education, Adult Education. Types: Worksheets, Activities, Games.
10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities
Problem-Solving worksheet. ... Explore these best problem-solving activities for kids to keep them amuse throughout the day while building growth skills in them. The more the senses are fired, and more real the experience. Ask the group to think about what they can hear, understand, press, smell, additionally even taste. ...
IXL Math
Includes: Match polynomials and graphs | Find the radius or diameter of a circle | Solve a right triangle | Graph sine and cosine functions | Graph a discrete probability distribution. See all 206 skills. Discover thousands of math skills covering pre-K to 12th grade, from counting to calculus, with infinite questions that adapt to each student ...
Problem solving resources
Created by. Christy Howe. Math Logic Puzzles for 2nd grade includes 16 higher-order thinking puzzles designed to challenge and engage your high flyers and fast finishers. Your students will utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills while building a solid understanding of essential math concepts and skills.
10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons
Weight: Lighter vs. heavier worksheets using balancing scales as visuals. Time: Reading clocks, days of the week, and understanding the calendar. Tally Marks: Using tally marks to represent data ...

10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

This Article Contains:

Can it help with depression?

The major concepts

Social problem-solving model

Relational problem-solving model

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

Is PPT appropriate?

Five problem-solving steps

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

Positive self-statements

5 Worksheets and workbooks

Reactions to Stress

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Problem-Solving worksheet

Getting the Facts

2 Helpful Group Activities

Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making

Visualization

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D’Zurilla

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Treatment Guidelines – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

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Problem Solving Worksheets

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Designing Effective Problem-Solving Worksheets

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Click on “Copy Template”

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Frequently Asked Questions About Problem Solving Worksheets

What strategies can I use to teach problem-solving skills using math worksheets?

How can I ensure that students grasp the problem-solving process effectively?

What are specific examples of how to teach problem-solving skills in math using pre-answered solution worksheets?

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Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

List of problem solving games & activities

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

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3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

5. Crossword puzzles

6. Online Escape Rooms

7. Murder Mysteries

8. Treasure Hunts

9. Poem or story challenge

10. Moral challenge